Alabama School Bus CDL Test 2

An Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) is in place as an addition to a braking system. It intervenes to prevent brakes from locking up during hard braking. If ABS is not working, the basic braking functions on a vehicle will still remain, so the driver can continue to drive and brake normally.

The outside right and left side convex mirrors on a school bus should be positioned so that the driver can see the fronts of the rear tires touching the ground; each side of the bus up to the mirror mounts; and at least one traffic lane on either side of the bus.

If you are asked to complete an offset back/right parking maneuver, you should first pull straight forward, then back up to the right. Your vehicle must be parked completely within the boundaries of the parking space.

Crossover mirrors are used to help a driver see the danger zone area directly in front of a school bus, as well as the danger zone areas to the left and right sides of the bus, including the area from the front of the bus to the service door.

During unloading, if a school bus driver cannot account for a student outside of the bus, they should secure the bus and check for the missing student around and underneath the bus.

During the vehicle inspection test, you should check that the drive shaft is not bent or cracked.

If approaching a railroad crossing while driving a transit bus, school bus, or placarded vehicle, special procedures apply. Before crossing, stop your vehicle within 50 feet of, but not less than 15 feet from, the nearest rail. Activate your four-way flashers while crossing. Do not stop, change gears, or change lanes while any part of your vehicle is proceeding across the tracks.

Passive railroad crossings are not controlled by any traffic control devices. At such crossings, it is entirely a driver’s responsibility to determine when it is safe to cross the tracks.

During the vehicle inspection test, you must be able to indicate where the oil dipstick is located; show that the oil level is within a safe operating range; and show that the oil level is above the refill mark.

Proper mirror adjustment is vital to the safe operation of a school bus. A bus’s flat mirrors should be adjusted so the driver is able to see 200 feet, or four bus lengths, behind the bus.

If it is necessary to evacuate a school bus, students should be led by the driver in the direction of oncoming traffic to a safe location that is at least 100 feet off the road. This will help to ensure that they are not hit by flying debris if another vehicle hits the bus.

Crossover mirrors are used to help a school bus driver see the danger zone area directly in front of the bus, as well as the danger zone areas to the left and right sides of the bus, including the area from the front of the bus to the service door.